DENVER Hawaii junior guard/forward Carl English was one of 50 players named to the Wooden Award Preseason All-American Team announced late last week. English earned second-team all-WAC honors last year after averaging 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds for a Hawaii team that was 27-6 last year.
A list of 50 student-athletes who, based on last years individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketballs most coveted trophy. The list is composed only of returning players transfers and freshmen are not eligible, though they are evaluated and considered for the midseason top 30.
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nations best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his university that he is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan and last years recipient, Jason Williams.
The 2003 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American team and the presentation of the Legends of Coaching Award, will be held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Sunday, April 13th and will be televised live nationally on Fox Sports Net for the sixth straight year.
For more information on the John R. Wooden Award, go to
www.woodenaward.com.
Wooden Award Preseason All-American Team
Top 50 Candidates(Based on a preseason poll. Players listed alphabetically.)Mario Austin, 6'9", Jr., F/C, Mississippi State
Marcus Bailey, 6'5", Sr., G/F, Wyoming
Troy Bell, 6'1", Sr., G, Boston College
Steve Blake, 6'3", Sr., G, Maryland
Keith Bogans, 6'5", Sr., G, Kentucky
Matt Bonner, 6'10", Sr., F, Florida
Nick Collison, 6'9", Sr., F, Kansas
Brian Cook, 6'10", Sr., F, Illinois
Tom Coverdale, 6'2", Sr., G, Indiana
Willie Dean, 6'1", Sr., G, Purdue
Erwin Dudley, 6'8", Sr., F, Alabama
Chris Duhon, 6'1", Jr., G, Duke
Carl English, 6'5", Jr., G/F, HawaiiEbi Ere, 6'5", Sr., G, Oklahoma
T.J Ford, 5'10", So., G, Texas
Reece Gaines, 6'6", Sr., G, Louisville
Jason Gardner, 5'11", Sr., G, Arizona
Marcus Hatten, 6'1", Sr., G, St. John's
Jarvis Hayes, 6'6", Jr., G/F, Georgia
Chris Hill, 6'3", So., G, Michigan State
Kirk Hinrich, 6'3", Sr., G, Kansas
Josh Howard, 6'6", Sr., F, Wake Forest
Brandon Hunter, 6'7", Sr., F, Ohio
Luke Jackson, 6'7", Jr., G, Oregon
Britton Johnsen, 6'9", Sr., G, Utah
Dahntay Jones, 6'6", Sr., F, Duke
Jason Kapono, 6'7", Sr., F, UCLA
Brandin Knight, 6'0", Sr., G, Pittsburgh
Chris Marcus, 7'1", Sr., C/F, Westurn Kentucky
Jason Maxiell, 6'7", So., F, Cincinnati
Brett Nelson, 6'3", Sr., G, Florida
Jameer Nelson, 6'1", Jr., G, St. Joseph's
Emeka Okafor, 6'9", Jr., F/C, Connecticut
Ugonna Onyekwe, 6'8", Sr., F, Pennsylvania
Rickey Paulding, 6'5", Jr., G, Missouri
Kirk Penney, 6'5", Sr., G, Wisconsin
Hollis Price, 6'1", Sr., G, Oklahoma
Justin Reed, 6'8", Jr., F, Mississippi
Darius Rice, 6'10", Jr., F, Miami
Luke Ridnour, 6'2", Jr., G, Oregon
Romain Sato, 6'5", Jr., G/F, Xavier
Theron Smith, 6'8", Sr., F, Ball State
Mike Sweetney, 6'8", Jr., F, Georgetown
Chris Thomas, 6'1", So., G, Notre Dame
James Thomas, 6'8", Jr., C, Texas
Cory Violette, 6'8", Jr., F/C, Gonzaga
Dwyane Wade, 6'4", Jr., G, Marquette
Luke Walton, 6'8", Sr., F, Arizona
Travis Watson, 6'8", Sr., F/C, Virginia
David West, 6'8", Sr., F/C, Xavier